THE BOYS NEXT DOOR

Director: Brian Tivnan
Stage Manager: Olga Kark

Audition Dates – February 24^th and 25^th at 7pm

Location: Lake Worth Playhouse – 713 Lake Ave, Lake Worth FL 33460

Performance Schedule: April 23^rd – May 3^rd, 2020

Rehearsal Schedule:  TBD but typically take place on weeknights from approximately 6:30 to 10pm. Weekend rehearsals also may be added.

Requirements: Please prepare a 2 minute contemporary monologue

Synopsis:

The place is a communal residence in a New England city, where four mentally handicapped men live under the supervision of an earnest, but increasingly “burned out” young social worker named Jack. Norman, who works in a doughnut shop and is unable to resist the lure of the sweet pastries, takes great pride in the huge bundle of keys that dangles from his waist; Lucien P. Smith has the mind of a five-year-old but imagines that he is able to read and comprehend the weighty books he lugs about; Arnold, the ringleader of the group, is a hyperactive, compulsive chatterer, who suffers from deep-seated insecurities and a persecution complex; while Barry, a brilliant schizophrenic who is devastated by the unfeeling rejection of his brutal father, fantasizes that he is a golf pro. Mingled with scenes from the daily lives of these four, where “little things” sometimes become momentous (and often very funny), are moments of great poignancy when, with touching effectiveness, we are reminded that the handicapped, like the rest of us, want only to love and laugh and find some meaning and purpose in the brief time that they, like their more fortunate brothers, are allotted on this earth.

Available Roles:

Arnold Wiggins – Male, 28-45, a mildly mentally disabled man who works at a movie theater, hyperactive and talks constantly, often abused by coworkers and is afraid to fight back,

Norman Bulansky – Male, 28-45, an overweight, middle-aged mentally disabled man who works at a doughnut shop, romantically involved with Sheila, a woman from another group home, very proud and possessive of his large ring of keys.

Lucien P. Smith – Male, 25-50, African American a large man who is very mentally disabled and functions at about a second-grade level, checks out books from the library, despite the fact he cannot read

Jack – Male, 28-45, the social worker for the four men, found that he’s becoming burned out and is thinking about a new line of work.

Mrs. Fremus/Mrs. Warren/Clara – Female, 18-64, Mrs. Fremus, a widow who lives next door; Mrs. Warren, a new neighbor; Clara, Sheila’s mentally disabled friend. Note: The three parts above are played by one actress.

Mr. Hodges/Mr. Corbin/Senator Clark – Male, 18-64, Mr. Hodges, Barry’s golf student whose patience only goes so far; Mr. Corbin, the movie theater manager; Senator Clark, a dignified public servant. Note: The three parts above are played by one actor.

Sheila – Female, 18-64, a mentally challenged woman who is in love with Norman, desperately wants his large ring of keys.

Mr. Klemper – Male, 40s-64, Barry’s explosive, abusive, physically handicapped father

Barry Klemper, Male, 18-30s, a young schizophrenic man who believes he is a golf pro, gets highly agitated over small things, has had a traumatic life growing up due to his abusive father and has been in and out of institutions.